Monday:
For the very first day of Bug Explorers, Little Explorers learned about what is an insect and what is not an insect. An insect has three body parts and six legs. Other things that look like insects but don’t have these qualities are just bugs. Together we read two different books titled I Love Bugs. We played a sorting game with different bugs and played a game where we practiced moving like bugs. Our craft was decorating bug jars for the creatures we find outside. After snack time, we all looked for bugs together and then took an up close look at them through our projector.
Tuesday: Today we learned all about spiders and other arachnids. Arachnids have eight legs and only two body parts. Besides spiders, we talked about scorpions and ticks! We matched different spiders to the webs they spin as well as made our own webs out of yarn and cardboard. After snack, a special guest came to visit us from the Leslie Science and Nature Center. She reviewed insects and arachnids with us before showing us a peppered cockroach, a tarantula, and a scorpion!
Friday: Today we are being silly with bugs! We discussed how bugs can be helpers and how they can be pests. A bee making a hive near our door might be a pest, but it’s helpful when it pollinates and makes honey. We made bug headbands to wear with antennae and lots of different bugs attached. Not only are we playing our pollinator game again, but we are making our own pretend bugs. Different parts are given to each friend for them to add together to make a silly new bug. We played a game where we filled our jars with bugs by being expert counters. Before we finished the day, we went on a bug hunt to look at more bugs on the big screen.